Petroglyph

Petroglyphs

Petroglyphs are special pictures carved into rocks by people long ago. They are a type of rock art and can tell stories or share ideas from ancient times.

The word petroglyph comes from Greek words meaning "stone" and "carve." These carvings are found all over the world except Antarctica. One of the oldest places with petroglyphs is Murujuga in Western Australia. Some of these carvings might be as old as 40,000 to 50,000 years!

People have many ideas about why they were made. Some think they were important for ceremonies or beliefs. Others believe they were like early maps or messages. Even though they are from different places, some petroglyphs look similar, maybe because people traveled far to share ideas.

Some petroglyph sites are so special that they are protected by groups like UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. These carvings help us learn about the people who lived long ago and the cultures they had.